Playing to Learn Language

School:: Dune Lakes Elementary School
Subject:: Low Performing Students
Teacher:: Corrie Sober
Students Impacted:: 767
Grade:: K-5
Date:: October 2, 2019

Investor

Thank you to the following investor for funding this grant.

CHELCO - $990.00

Impact to My Classroom

# of Students Impacted: 767

Dear Donor,

Thank you so much for providing the funds for a new Orff instrument station at Dune Lakes Elementary. Your gift allowed us to purchase two Peripole Contra Bass bars which work together as a single instrument. Due to the COVID-19 shut down, we were only able to use the newly purchased instruments for a little over a month. I attached the only picture I had on file at the time. However in that limited time, I was able to observe that my students were more than eager to play and learn whatever core content I put before them as long as they got a chance to play the bass bars. To a child, there is always something magical about getting to play an instrument and your gift has truly azmazed each one of my students! Many of my students with more significant behavior management problems (some due to language barriers and/ or learning differences) exponentially improved their focus and attention on each lesson while they learned through the Orff instruments. Our origional project plan was to learn a poem, chant, or story with each grade level and show off our progress at the End of the Year Awards Ceremony and Performance. Because of COVID-19, we will have to extend our practice and performance of this goal to our next school year. Your gift will be used by our entire student body next year and for many years to come. We look forward to Playing to Learn Language more when schools open back up! Thank you, Dune Lakes Elementary Music Department.

grant photo

5th Grade's 1st Day with new bass bars

Original Grant Overview

Goal

In a society pressured by achievement, we often see a forced process of students learning the art of play instead of the innate process of students playing to learn. My goal is to maximize the limited time I have with over 750 students. I will do this by providing a high-quality experience that develops the cognitive, physical, and emotional facets of a child through purposeful movement on classroom instruments.

What will be done with my students

Using Orff instruments such as xylophones, metallophones, and toned bass bars, my students will improvise melodies that correspond with the expression of language in either a chant, poem, or story. While creating melodies for a story, students will also be encouraged to explore and perform sounds that bring life to language through a playful experience on instruments. Each class will improvise a melody connected to a poem or chant, they will then be able to perform a repeated rhythm pattern to an age-appropriate song. For first through fifth grade, students will complete the learning process of the proposed activity over 14-16 weeks during their designated music class (50 minutes, twice a month). The final product will be demonstrated at the end of the year award ceremony.

Benefits to my students

We are not yet at a 1-1 ratio of instruments to students and this grant will help us move towards achieving that goal. A total of 767 students, kindergarten through fifth grade, will benefit from language and music studies through a wide array of musical instruments. However, 137 of that total number have exceptional learning needs and 80 are English Language Learners (ELL). Both of these sub groups struggle to communicate and comprehend English language in and out of the classroom from a multitude of different factors. Currently, four out of five ELL students in music classes are not fully engaged due to the language barrier. Three out of five students with exceptional learning disabilities are not able to fully participate in the music classroom through voice and dance because of learning differences. This school year alone, I have seen four non-verbal students benefit from language exploration on instruments as well as ten ELL students able to communicate across language barriers through instruments.

Budget Narrative

The items to be purchased from Peripole.com are as follows:
1. P1402 - Peripole-Bergerault® Sub-Contra Bass Bar D - Aged Rosewood- $495.00 plus tax
2. P1403 - Peripole-Bergerault® Sub-Contra Bass Bar E - Aged Rosewood- $495.00 plus tax
Total Cost: $990.00 plus 8% tax

Special note: Tax is not seen until a credit card payment has been made. Tax will be 8% of the total order at roughly $80.00.
Mallets for listed instruments are not included and can be purchased separately for $17.50

Items

#	Item	Cost
1	P1402 - Peripole-Bergerault® Sub-Contra Bass Bar D - Aged Rosewood	$495.00
2	P1403 - Peripole-Bergerault® Sub-Contra Bass Bar E - Aged Rosewood	$495.00
	Total:	$990.00

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